Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa faces death penalty for drug offence

Egypt’s legal framework permits the death penalty for a range of serious drug offenses, a provision that has drawn international scrutiny. A 2024 reform now obliges felony defendants to receive a full appeal before the Court of Cassation, the nation’s highest judicial body, before any capital sentence can be confirmed. Euronews has outlined the procedural steps that follow a lower‑court conviction, noting that the appeal must address both factual and legal grounds and that the Court of Cassation reviews the case de novo, with the power to overturn, amend, or uphold the original verdict.

The reform aims to ensure greater judicial oversight and to align Egypt’s criminal procedure with broader standards of due process. After the Court of Cassation renders its decision, the sentence becomes final and can be executed, subject to any additional clemency petitions to the President. The new appellate requirement marks a significant shift in the handling of death‑penalty cases, providing defendants with an additional layer of review before a capital punishment is carried out.